Book excerpt: This book is for polymer/plastics technologists. It is a state-of-the-art review of industrial applications of polymer additives written by world leading authorities. The authors have written specially commissioned chapters, which combine to provide comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of the field and a convenient entry to the contemporary literature. Coverage includes antioxidants, polymer stabilisers and stabilisation, fire retardants and plastics flamability, specialty additives and the emerging field of nanocomposites.